Thanks to a goal from Ziyech, Morocco won and secured its first place in Group F. A Moroccan success synonymous with elimination for Zambia, and qualification for Ivory Coast.
23:39 – Good night
Thank you all for accompanying us for this match between Morocco and Zambia, closing the group stage of CAN 2023. The competition resumes next Saturday with Angola-Namibia at 6 p.m. followed by the clash at 9 p.m. between Nigeria and Cameroon.
23:30 – Morocco as manager, match summary
From 25 meters in the center, Emmanuel Banda fired a heavy shot from the outside of the left. A missile that saw Bounou relax and slam the ball just above his crossbar. This was the only fear for the Moroccans in an evening where they were able to impose their technical ease and above all their collective influence on an opponent who was too limited in his expression and who lacked the character to force destiny. Zambia would have needed much more than this distant and late attempt to hope to achieve a first victory in the African Cup of Nations since 2012, but could they really do so against an opponent so sure of their football and their value.
The Atlas Lions only needed the first act to make the difference in the wake of the very restless Boufal. Not necessarily expected before the start of the competition, the former Angevin proved to his coach that he did well to take him to Ivory Coast. Untenable on the left, he made Mwape and the Zambian defense have a complicated evening with his dribbles, his feints, his directions and his movements. Also, it is very logical that he found himself at the origin of the only goal of the meeting. With a reversal of play, he destabilized the entire Zambian block to serve Hakimi. At the end of the run and volley, the PSG full-back straightened the ball in the center and found El Kaabi. The attacker came up against Mulenga but in the process, Ziyech took advantage of the confusion to finish with his left foot. A goal full of opportunism but which rewarded Moroccan domination.
The rest was all management, starting with that of the captain and scorer of the evening, who came out during the break after receiving a blow to the left instep. Indeed, the Atlas Lions did not have to exert their talent and could even have escaped if Adli or Tissoudali had not failed against the opposing goalkeeper, or demonstrated more realism like this point-blank shot not on target by Ezzalzouli, who had forgotten a partner alone in the center. A lesser evil since Avram Grant’s Zambia did not show the character that the former Chelsea technician had invoked.
A fatal lack of personality for the Chipolopolos, eliminated when a draw would have been enough for them to continue the adventure and invent themselves as potential successors to the 2012 champions. By falling against Morocco, they gave up their ticket for the rest of the competition in Ivory Coast, host country saved from the waters by the grace of the football gods but sent for its errors into the maw of Senegal, title holders. For its part, Morocco retained its invincibility and was able to grant itself the luxury of resting a few executives like Saiss and En-Nesyri. What to see coming in this CAN 2023.
23:15 – Amrabat’s reaction
“I’m very happy with this victory, it’s the most important thing. What matters is that we won our group and we want to go as far as possible.”commented briefly on Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat, elected man of the match.
23:10 – The known Moroccan adversary
First in Group F, Morocco will not have to leave San Pédro for the round of 16 since it will play its match against South Africa, second in Group E, at the Laurent-Pokou stadium.
23:05 – Ivory Coast in heaven
The misfortune of one person makes the happiness of others. The saying applies this evening to Zambians and Ivorians. Indeed, a draw was enough for the Chipolopolos to qualify for the round of 16 but by losing to Morocco, they gave up the last ticket for the knockout phase to the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire. The host country of the competition will see the rest of the competition despite two defeats, and will challenge Senegal, defending champion.
22:57 – Morocco wins (1-0)
At the end of a mixed match where it was never really worried, Morocco ended the group phase with a victory against Zambia (1-0). The Atlas Lions made the difference in a lively first period where Boufal was the main detonator of the Moroccan game and Ziyech the opportunistic scorer. Too timid and incapable of rebelling, the Chipolopolos never gave the feeling of being able to do better.
22:55 – Double Moroccan opportunity
In the axis from 20 meters, Richardson hits from the inside of the left. Mulenga fails to catch on the ground and releases which benefits Tissoudali. The latter moves off to the right but hampered by Adli, he sees his shot pushed back by the Zambian goalkeeper.
22:53 – A bad shot
Served near the surface by El Khannouss, Ezzalzouli overwhelms Frankie Musonda but sees his left shot completely escape him.
22:52 – Additional time: 5 minutes
There will be five minutes of added time in this match as Zambia pushes harder to equalize.
22:50 – Abdelhamid saves from a tackle
The second Zambian corner is pushed back to the near post but the ball returns to the feet of Daka whose first-intention cross forces Bounou to come out with his fists. The ball arrives at the far post where a Zambian tries his luck from the right. It takes a tackle from Abdelhamid at 6 meters to avert the danger.
22:48 – Bounou slams above
From 25 meters in the center, Emmanuel Banda catapults a powerful shot from the left and Bounou is forced to divert the ball above his goal which was falling under the bar.
22:47 – Tissoudali next door
Served on the left in the area, Tissoudali hits low to the ground with his left foot and sees Chaiwa counter him. Despite everything, he gets a corner, which achieves nothing.
22:46 – The latest changes
Grant and Benmahmoud make their last two tactical adjustments with the Zambian side the exit from Mwape for Chama, and the Moroccan side the exit from Ounahi for El Khannouss.
22:42 – Yellow card for Hakimi
Adli gives it into the box for Hakimi. The Moroccan full-back seeks contact with Lubombo Musonda and collapses. The simulation is not to the taste of the referee who gives him a yellow card.
22:41 – Musonda just above
Shifted to the right, 30 meters away, the Zambian shooter shifts in the axis Lubombo Musonda who fires with the right. His shot goes just over Bounou’s goal.
22:40 – Fresh break
In the 75th minute, both teams were invited to take another break to hydrate. It’s still 28 degrees on the San Pédro side.
22:38 – Ounahi fails his test
Hakimi has field on the right and is served in space. He gives it inside to Ounahi who lacks his control in the area.
22:35 – The changes continue
The game is choppy and the two coaches continue to rotate their squads. Fourth change for Morocco with the exit of El Kaabi, who gives way to Tissoudali up front. We play the 72nd minute.
22:32 – Change for Zambia
In the wake of Moroccan coaching, Grant decides to take out two of his players Kennedy Musonda and Chilufya to launch Kangwa and Sakala in the 70th minute.
22:32 – The center does not succeed
In the central circle, Richardson wins the ball in the air and after a relay from Ounahi moves forward. He gives space on the right for Adli who passes behind Lubombo Lusonda. The Leverkusen player’s cross is poorly delivered and goes out of the goal.
22:29 – Double change for Morocco
In the 67th minute, Rachid Benmahmoud made two new adjustments with the exits of Boufal and Saibari. They are replaced by Ezzalzouli and Richardson.
22:28 – Low time
The two teams seem to be watching each other and are struggling to find continuity in their actions. On the left side, Lubumbo Lusonda carries the ball and hits but his lateral pass into the Moroccan camp is intercepted by Adli.
22:22 – Chaiwa from afar
Closely squeezed by his defender, Daka gives Chaiwa a step back. from 30 meters, the Zambian midfielder takes his chance from the right. His shot from the outside is unscrewed and misses.
22:20 – Banda hits the post
Lamek Banda resists three Moroccans and takes advantage of Lubumbo Musonda’s call to transplant. His shot from the left corner of the area was not curled enough and brushed past Bounou’s right post.
22:19 – Daka does not continue
On a ball lost near the halfway line by the Moroccans, Kennedy Musonda moves forward and finds a nice passing line in the area for Daka whose oriented control is approximate. This prevents him from turning around properly and allows Aguerd to intervene to relieve his family.